Ottoman 1912 Land Deed House in Manisa Kırkağaç Armenian Quarter Title Deed Armenia

Ottoman Property Deed - House in Ermeniyan Mahallesi, Kırkağaç (Manisa), 1912

Description:
This detailed Ottoman property deed, dated November 25, 1912, documents the ownership and partial sale of a house in Ermeniyan Mahallesi, Kırkağaç (Saruhan/Manisa). The property was originally divided into two shares: three-quarters (3/4) belonging to Maria, wife of Sarkis, son of Çakmakcı (Çakmakcıyan) Mardiros, an Ottoman citizen of the Armenian comunity, and one-quarter (1/4) belonging to Armenian Varvaro Hatun. The deed provides an exceptionally thorough description of the house, its rooms, and its boundaries, making it an invaluable source on late Ottoman domestic architecture.

Maria’s share consisted of two rooms upstairs, one room downstairs, along with a kitchen, a cellar, a stable, and a small annex (baraka). Varvaro Hatun’s share was defined as a single-room annex on both the upper and lower floors. The boundaries of the property mention exclusively Armenian neighbors Serkis, Abraham, Karabet, and others demonstrating the predominantly Armenian character of the neighborhood.

Eventually, Varvaro Hatun sold her one-quarter share to Hrand Efendi, son of Kasab (butcher) Serkis, for 1,500 kuruş. The document bears multiple seals, revenue stamps (pûl), and notably includes Armenian signatures on the reverse side. For collectors of Armenian culture and history within the Ottoman Empire, this deed is of exceptional interest, as it embodies the communal fabric of an Armenian-majority neighborhood in early 20th-century Anatolia.

Key Features:

• Date: 12 Teşrinisani 1328 (25 November 1912)

• Location: Ermeniyan Mahallesi, Kırkağaç, Saruhan (modern Manisa, Turkey)

• Property Type: Residential house (Hane)

• Ownership Shares:

  • 3/4 share: Maria, wife of Sarkis bin Çakmakcı (Çakmakcıyan) Mardiros (Armenian community, Ottoman citizen)

  • 1/4 share: Varvaro Hatun → sold to Hrand Efendi, son of Kasab Serkis, for 1,500 kuruş

• House Description:

  • Maria’s portion: 2 rooms upstairs, 1 room downstairs, 1 kitchen, 1 cellar, 1 stable, 1 annex (baraka)

  • Varvaro Hatun’s portion: 1 single-room annex with upper and lower floors

• Boundaries:

  • For Varvaro Hatun’s portion: Right side – Maria’s house; Left side – Çakmakcı Abraham’s son Sarkis’s house; Front & back – Road

  • For Maria’s portion: Right side – Sarkis’s house; Left side – Kasab Serkis’s son Karabet’s house; Back – Road

• Language: Ottoman Turkish with Armenian signatures

• Condition: Original deed with revenue stamps (pûl) and numerous seals; some staining from age, strong authenticity

• Notable Cultural Context: All neighbors and owners named are of Armenian origin, highlighting the predominantly Armenian character of Ermeniyan Mahallesi in the early 20th century.